Ah, September. A month that marks both the official end of British summertime and the official start of oyster season in the UK. A somewhat contradictory statement, when slurping oysters is most often associated with summer – ideally when the sun is shining and the sea is nearby. Alas, this article ticks neither box. Because it’s all about where to eat oysters in London right now. Aw shucks.
Decimo at The Standard
Best for: slurping oysters to a soundtrack that hits the spot.
Order: oysters with árbol chilli (available on the brunch, para picar, and dinner menus).
This open-fire Spanish-Mexican restaurant on the 10th floor of King’s Cross’s kooky-but-cool hotel hits all the tasting marks. It’s crept its way into our London-centric lists for where to drink mezcal, where to pair caviar with Champagne, and now, where to eat oysters – and for good reason. On the menu, you’ll find Michelin-starred chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias does oysters one way only: with a sprinkle of Mexican chilli pepper. Speaking of spice, don’t miss Decimo’s weekly line-up of DJs, or hop across to Sweeties for more late-night fun.
King’s Cross | standardhotels.com
10 Argyle St, WC1H 8EG
Bar des Prés
Best for: squeezing in a visit to try this special before September’s up.
Order: six Fine de Claire oysters with Sakura vinaigrette.
Forget catch of the day, this is the catch of the month. Because if oysters with a Michelin-starred twist sound good to you, you’ve only got until the end of September to try Cyril Lignac’s latest showstopper: Fine de Claires from France’s Atlantic coast, delicately dressed with a Sakura vinaigrette. A dish that perfectly flexes the Mayfair restaurant’s flair for Franco-East Asian fusion. The oysters are sweet and sharp all at once – and only sticking around for a short time, so catch them whilst you still can.
Mayfair | bardespres.com
16 Albemarle St, W1S 4HW
Ekstedt at The Yard
Best for: easing an oyster abstainer into advocacy.
Order: the flambadou oyster with beurre blanc.
As far as shellfish stardom goes, Swedish chef Niklas Ekstedt’s flambadou oyster is fairly famous. First, red-hot beef fat is trickled over the oyster, which gently – but quickly – cooks it. Then, it’s served with butter sauce, Swedish vinegar, juniper-smoked apple, and spinach oil. That complexity is certainly worthy of a little commotion – and might even be the ideal way to introduce an oyster abstainer into the game. But it’s not just the oysters that are red-hot here. The whole restaurant is wood-fired, inspired by the Old Nordic cooking style.
Westminster | ekstedtattheyard.com
3–5 Great Scotland Yard, SW1A 2HN
The MAINE Mayfair
Best for: seeing how many oysters you can slurp down at the daily ‘shuck fest’.
Order: Carlingford or Maldon oysters with red mignonette (red wine vinegar, red onion, salt, sugar, ginger) or white mignonette (white wine vinegar, jalapeno, ginger).
Despite its central London postcode, The MAINE does a marvellous job of transporting you to, well, Maine. Every detail drips with New England extravagance, but the terrace (one of London’s best outdoor dining spots) is where we’d pick to be positioned for enjoying the oysters ceremoniously served on silver platters under the striped awnings. For the full shebang, follow up a dozen oysters with the lobster roll and fish tacos to share. For oyster purists, visit between 4pm and 8pm for the daily ‘shuck fest’.
Mayfair | themainemayfair.com
6 Medici Courtyard, W1S 1JY
Rick Stein, Barnes
Best for: no-frills, no-fuss oysters.
Order: the classic oyster platter.
Sometimes, the smartest move is to skip the twists and play it straight. At Rick Stein Barnes, that means a classic platter of oysters – nothing more, nothing less (which, in this instance, means Dorset oysters served on ice, with shallot and red wine vinegar dressing). Divine. Especially when paired with a crisp white from Charlie Stein’s handpicked list. Not to mention, Stein’s Thames-side spot is as close to that feeling of slurping seafood by the sea as you’ll get in the Big Smoke.
Barnes | rickstein.com
Tideway Yd, 125 Mortlake High St, SW14 8SW
Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill
Best for: absorbing a century of shucking know-how.
Order: a mixed rock selection (tell the expert shuckers a bit about your palate and let them surprise you with a selection).
Since 1916, Bentley’s has been the place to perch on red leather stools and let the oystermen school you in how to really eat an oyster (spoiler alert: you don’t just knock it back as quickly as possible). With Jersey, Galway, Donegal, Mayo, and Pembrokeshire all on the slate, it’s a masterclass in terroir, salt, and sweetness.
So, follow the masters of their craft, savour each slurp, and you’ll never eat oysters the same way again.
Mayfair | bentleys.com
11–15 Swallow St, W1B 4DG
La Petite Maison
Best for: French Riviera-inspired flavours.
Order: oysters with shallots and yuzu sauce.
Mayfair’s LPM (one of London’s best French restaurants) isn’t about restraint. It’s about Riviera-inspired flavour in full. Its oysters get this very treatment: they’re briny, sharp, and lifted with shallots and citrusy yuzu. The rest of the menu is satisfyingly salty, too – from tuna tartare topped with a caviar-heaped spoon to juicy prawns swimming in olive oil and lemon juice. If the food alone doesn’t do it, the fruity centrepieces and eclectic art are sure to transport you to the South of France.
Mayfair | lpmrestaurants.com
53–54 Brook's Mews, W1K 4EG
Sam’s Riverside
Best for: going all-in with an oyster-inspired martini.
Order: Sam’s Deluxe Fruits de Mer.
Fittingly for a waterside spot overlooking Hammersmith Bridge, Sam’s has oysters baked into its DNA. From Carlingford Loughs to Jersey Rocks to Achills, the oyster list is local – and long. Go big: order the Sam’s Deluxe Fruits de Mer platter. Go small: swing by for oyster happy hour (Monday to Friday, 5–6:30pm). Either way, make sure to sip a Sam's Oyster Martini (Papa Salt Gin, nori-infused vermouth, thyme tincture, twist) alongside your seafood supper.
Hammersmith | samsriverside.com
1 Crisp Rd, W6 9DN
Seabird
Best for: the city’s longest oyster list.
Order: a mixed oyster platter of your own concoction (our pick? One of each variety).
Come for the seafood, stay for the sky-high sunsets. Soaring above the city on the 14th floor of The Hoxton, Seabird serves shellfish from France, Ireland, England, and Scotland. But having a head for heights isn’t the only trick up its sleeve – it’s also home to London’s longest oyster list. Whether you choose a dozen Gillardeaus or Louët Feissers, they’ll land on your tabletop stacked high on seafood platters, having been scooped up from their spot on ice in the glistening raw bar. Bottoms up.
Southwark | seabirdlondon.com
40 Blackfriars Rd, SE1 8NY
Langan’s Brasserie
Best for: pairing oysters with Champagne.
Order: Plateau de Fruits de Mer.
Langan’s is somewhat of a London institution – a buzzy brasserie that’s kept the capital theatrically fed since the ‘70s. Sure, you can order oysters à la carte – Wright Brothers’ finest, dressed with mignonette or ponzu – but the move here is the Plateau de Fruits de Mer. With a whole Canadian lobster, Obsiblue prawns, and mussels up top, and oysters down below, it’s as much a spectacle as it is an indulgence. Langan’s is a place to see, be seen, and celebrate. So, if there’s anywhere to pair Champagne with your oysters, it’s here.
Mayfair | langansbrasserie.com
Stratton St, W1J 8LB
From the Big Smoke to the Big Apple, check out our guide on where to eat oysters on NYC, too.
